University of Virginia Library

Constitutional Rights

Mr. Mannix stressed that
the ACLU is neither "liberal"
nor "conservative." "We have
defended the constitutional
rights of all Americans," he
said, "ranging from the Nazis
to the Communists. Yet the
vast majority of our work
involves average citizens who
are somehow being screwed by
unconstitutional governmental
activity"

A recent action by the
ACLU concerned an outdated
city ordinance which regulated
the distribution of handbills
Asserting that the law had not
been enforced for years and
that it was clearly
unconstitutional, the local
chapter asked City Council to
repeal it.

The ordinance was repealed
at the march 6 meeting of City Council.